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Kotch
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Wikipedia article
'Kotch' is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Jack Lemmon and starring Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr, Charles Aidman, and Ellen Geer.
Adapted by John Paxton from Katharine Topkins' 1965 novel of the same name, the film tells the story of an elderly man who leaves his family rather than going to a nursing home, and strikes up a friendship with a pregnant teenage girl. It was Lemmon's only film behind the camera and partnered him with friend and frequent co-star Matthau.
Portions of the film were shot and set in Palm Springs, California.
Cast
*Walter Matthau as Joseph P. Kotcher
*Deborah Winters as Erica Herzenstiel
*Felicia Farr as Wilma Kotcher
*Charles Aidman as Gerald Kotcher
*Ellen Geer as Vera Kotcher
*Donald and Dean Kowalski as Duncan Kotcher
*Arlen Stuart as Mrs. Fisher
*Jane Connell as Miss Roberts
*James E. Brodhead as Mr. Weaver
*Jessica Rains as Dr. McKernan
*Darrell Larson as Vincent Perrin
*Biff Elliot as Motel Manager
*Paul Picerni as Dr. Ramon Caudillo
*Lucy Saroyan as Sissy
*Kim Hamilton as Emma Daly
*Amzie Strickland as Nurse Barons
*Larry Linville as Peter Stiel
*Penny Santon as Mrs. Segura
*Jack Lemmon as Sleeping Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Reception
The film earned rentals of $3.6 million in North America and $1.4 million in other countries. It recorded an overall profit of $330,000.
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 2 out of 4 stars, and said There aren't many comic actors I admire more than Matthau, and he does his best to be an old man in Kotch, but the illusion simply isn't there.
Plot Synopsis
Awards and nominations
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Award
! Category
! Nominee(s)
! Result
|-
| rowspan="4"| Academy Awards
| Best Actor
| Walter Matthau
|
|-
| Best Film Editing
| Ralph E. Winters
|
|-
| Best Song Original for the Picture
| "Life Is What You Make It"
Music by Marvin Hamlisch;
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
|
|-
| Best Sound
| Richard Portman and Jack Solomon
|
|-
| American Cinema Editors Awards
| Best Edited Feature Film
| Ralph E. Winters
|
|-
| rowspan="4"| Golden Globe Awards
| colspan="2"| Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
|
|-
| Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
| Walter Matthau
|
|-
| Best Screenplay Motion Picture
| John Paxton
|
|-
| Best Original Song Motion Picture
| "Life Is What You Make It"
Music by Marvin Hamlisch;
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
|
|-
| Kansas City Film Circle Critics Awards
| Best Actor
| Walter Matthau
|
|-
| Writers Guild of America Awards
| Best Comedy Adapted from Another Medium
| John Paxton
|
|}
Home media
'Kotch' was released in a Region 1 DVD by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment on July 6, 2004.
See also
* List of American films of 1971
Notes
References
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